As I navigate publishing multiple books—I’m working on number 7!!—there have been more questions from colleagues on the whole process. Here are ten tips to help other professionals bring their books from idea to reality! Don’t forget to check out the videos of these tips on our Aspiring Authors playlist on YouTube!
1. Identify Your Gift
You’ve heard this idea woven in other content from me, and it still rings as true as when public speaker coach Mari Geasair first presented it! Ask yourself, “what’s the gift I’m giving?” What do you want your reader to walk away with? What idea or concept can they learn from you? What is the call to action after reading your book? What do you want them to feel?
2. Do your Research
First, researching other books out there that are similar to yours is important. Is your idea different enough to interest your audience? Do you have a new spin on something that folks would find valuable? Second, how old are the books out there? Is the market saturated with books on your topic, which wouldn’t bode well for a successful launch? Are the books available ten or twenty years old, ensuring your content would be well received by filling in the gaps? Is there an absence of information, which would motivate you to get your book out there as soon as possible?
3. Make an Outline
Just like in elementary school, having an outline organizes your thoughts before putting pen to paper. It can help you start to see where information would be housed in sections or chapters, creating an intentional flow to your work. Additionally, an outline is oftentimes what a publisher wants to see included in your book proposal to consider your book and a possible contract. So although an outline may feel less than exciting to complete, consider it a roadmap of what you are writing, while also helping others see where you are headed in your book journey in order for them to give you an enthusiastic yes to publishing it!
4. Create a Ritual
A personal favorite, what rituals can you create that you associate with writing? Are you wearing a particular outfit or pair of pants? Do you write in a specific spot to help your mind drop into the task of writing? Do you treat yourself to a coffee or listen to certain music when writing? Consider all five of your senses and how they can support a ritual that gets you into the groove of writing regularly.
5. Set Time Blocks
What amounts of time do you need to write? Do you need several hours in one chunk? Do you need more breaks, like 30 minutes on, 10 minutes off? If you don’t schedule it, it doesn’t happen, so experiment with blocking out some times that are labeled “writing” or “my book” to see how that can motivate you.
6. Talk About Your Book
I have had such valuable conversations when talking about my books to others. Notice their responses. Listen for their questions and assumptions, which could be transformed into content within the book. Odds are that if they have a question, so would your readers. So talk about it! It will help you flush out more things to include within your pages.
7. Interview Other People
In alignment with Tip #6, interviewing folks can bring content into focus. Are there any themes or concepts from interviews worth capturing in your writing? Is it about highlighting a person’s perspective or experience, with their consent? Maybe you are trying to explore the lived experience of others, in comparison to your own experience as the author? Either way, I recommend interviewing folks to further clarify what content belongs in your book.
8. Tell Stories
My favorite part of writing these days is the stories. Weaving them into each chapter can build trust and connection or teach a skill. Stories can illustrate concepts you are introducing to your audience, encourage ah-has, or be a reference point for later reflection as the reader. People remember stories and they like them, so it’s worth considering how you can use story within your book.
9. Write the Easy Parts First
Aspiring authors can get tripped up on the idea of writing their books in order. Chapter by chapter, beginning, middle, end. This can lead to writers block if you start feeling stuck on one particular section. How about writing the “easy” parts first? Or the parts that bring you joy in the moment? The parts that feel more clear or the ones that are on your mind when writing this week? By giving yourself permission to write the easy parts first, you are also giving yourself permission to write things out of order, knowing you’ll piece it back together as an additional step later.
10. Read It Out Loud
Some of you may cringe at this idea, but I promise you it’s an important tip for authors! Not only does reading it out loud help you check for grammar, punctuation, and flow, it also helps you check out if the content sounds like you. As an author, you are your brand. By reading it out loud, you get to ensure that it sounds like you and holds the tone you want to convey, especially if your aim is a conversational instead of academic voice. A bonus? Reading it out loud prepares you for any audio book recordings you may feel compelled to complete after the book launch! Audio books remain a popular option for readers, so having the practice of reading it out loud gets you one step closer to recording.
Are you feeling ready to write your book? Check out these additional tips from our ten amazing mental health professionals turned authors from our Virtual Book Fair this month!